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“Hiding the truth isn’t protection,” I said quietly. “It’s just hiding.”
His shoulders rose as he took a sharp intake of breath. Slowly, they fell as he let it out.
“I don’t owe money.” His voice was resigned, almost as if he were just realizing the gravity of the situation.
If Eric and I were about to lose our home, I’d be in a panic. It wasn’t the best, and we didn’t own it, but we’d lived there a long time. I wouldn’t pretend to know what it was like to be on the verge of our apartment slipping from our fingers.
“If you don’t owe anything, how can you lose it?” Beau asked, her irritation climbing the longer he remained evasive.
I wanted answers too, but couldn’t stand to see him struggling.
“There was an issue with the title. And the insurance I purchased to cover such events was never ordered.”
Beau put a hand to her head. “I don’t understand.”
That made two of us. I’d never bought any real estate and had no idea how the process worked.
“The title wasn’t clear. And the insurance I paid to cover it wasn’t ever executed. I only recently became aware of the situation.”
Muffy pawed at Lincoln again. He looked down at the dog as if trying to figure out what he wanted.
“If there are liens on this property, you’d have found out about that a lot sooner. The lien holder would want their money,” Beau said.
I was lost. I understood the words coming out of their mouths but couldn’t really piece together what they meant. It made me feel stupid and even more useless.
Beau was so down-to-earth that I sometimes forgot she lived in another world. One with executives and multimillion-dollar companies, and strategies average people didn’t even know existed.
“I don’t have an answer for that. But you know how long legal matters can be tied up in court. Especially complicated ones.”
Legal matters, I knew. Long court battles and waiting for the state to make a decision? I had experience there. It had taken a year for me to be granted permanent custody of Eric as opposed to temporary.
“Isn’t there a statute of limitations?” Beau pressed.
“Zegas is pursuing all possible avenues.” Muffy pawed Lincoln again. “I need to take him out.”
He didn’t look at either of us as he led the dog across the room.
“We’re not done with this conversation,” Beau said.
“We are for now.”
The click of paws on the floor signaled an excitement that didn’t exist. The dogs were innocent, and I hoped they could help Lincoln in some capacity we couldn’t.
“Can you believe him?” Beau threw her hands up and paced in front of the coffee table.
“If you were in his position, would you want to admit it?”
She flashed me an annoyed look. “No. But that doesn’t make it right. Or me less pissed off at him.”
“He doesn’t want to bother you with his problems.” I wasn’t condoning his actions, though sometimes understanding why people did what they did helped.
“He’s failed on that front. Because I am most definitely bothered.” She yanked on her long hair. “I gotta get out of here. I can’t handle him right now.”
As much as conventional wisdom said it was wiser to face problems, I agreed that she needed a minute to cool off. Once she had, they could talk rationally.
She stormed toward her bedroom and emerged a minute later wearing heels and a leather jacket and carrying her purse.
“Call me if you need me.”
